Q. Your work showcases imperial Calcutta and Bombay in a new light; what kind of background research did you have to undertake before beginning your photography?
A. The The idea to photograph the buildings of Calcutta and Bombay came quite suddenly at the end of 2002, and I left France to start the project soon afterwards, having acquired a second-hand view camera. I had already spent time in both cities, particularly Calcutta, during previous visits to India from as early as 1986, and this experience was valuable. 


United Cotton Mill no. 1, Parel, Bombay, 2005. PIC COURTESY/ ©Christopher Taylor / Courtesy Tasveer/ Vacheron Constantin and The Singleton of Glen Ord

The real research was made when I started the project in January 2003. I walked endlessly around the city looking for suitable locations, and also made many enquiries meeting people like G M Kapur at INTACH in Calcutta, the conservation architect Manish Chakraborty, the city corporation and so on. These people put me in touch with others and gradually I gained access to the places, which interested me.